DP World Tour news: Ryan Fox tired of winning events that disappear from schedule

Planet Sport writerStaff Writer2 February 2023
New Zealand's Ryan Fox in action

New Zealand's Ryan Fox in action

New Zealand's Ryan Fox reckons he's at least happy to be "half defending" a title at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship this week.

Last season saw two DP World Tour events conducted in successive weeks at Al Hamra Golf Club, with Nicolai Hojgaard winning this week's tournament before Fox lifted the trophy at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic seven days later.

The 36-year-old went on to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and record four runners-up finishes as he finished second on the money list behind Rory McIlroy.
However, he won't be able to defend the first of those 2022 triumphs because the Ras Al Khaimah Classic no longer features on this season's schedule.
And that's not the first time Fox has been unable to defend one of his victories.
"It seems to be a recurring theme for me on Tour," he said.
"I won the last year of the World Super 6 in Perth. Hopefully it doesn't happen with the Dunhill later this year.
"I still feel like I'm half defending, winning round the same course. I'm the last guy to win here. It certainly means something and I've got great memories around here."
Hojgaard's winning total last year was 24 under par and Fox shot 22 under, but the world number 30 is expecting a tougher test this time around.
"I've heard they have toughened it up," Fox said. "They didn't have a lot of notice last year to get the tournaments together but I thought the course played great.
"It's just there was no rough and not much penalty for hitting the ball a bit off line, but I hear this year there's a lot of penalty for just missing fairways.
"I think it will be a tough test of golf this week. There are a lot of tee shots that are quite tricky, especially the back nine; 10, 12 and coming down the stretch 16, 17, 18 are narrow fairways.
"There is always a bit of wind round here, it will be a good test."
Fox and Hojgaard will contest the first two rounds together along with France's Victor Perez, who won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January.